'She was a great lady:' Wife of retired police chief killed by falling tree

According to authorities, the woman was in a private driveway when the tree fell.

Author:
Adrianne Haney

Published:
3:10 PM EDT September 12, 2017

Updated:
3:10 PM EDT September 12, 2017

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. -- The Forsyth County Sheriff's Office confirms a woman died after getting hit by a falling tree.

According to authorities, the woman was in a private driveway on Shadburn Road when the tree fell onto the car where she and her husband were inside. Deputies tried to rescue the woman from the passenger seat, but she died from her injuries. Her husband, sitting in the driver seat, was uninjured.

11Alive's Chris Hopper went to the scene where he spoke to the woman's family. They identified her as 57-year-old Nancy Eason, and said she was at the home to check on a family member during the storm.

Family described Eason as a caring and kind woman, who was active in her church.

"She was a great lady," family told 11Alive. "She was great in the community. A very Christian woman. She was good to us all."

According to the Forsyth County Sheriff, Eason was a retired court reporter who worked for both the Forsyth and Cherokee County judicial systems for many years. Her husband, Mike, is a retired special agent with the GBI and served as the Chief of Cumming Police Department.

The Sheriff's Office is asking for everyone to "keep this family in your prayers."

She was a big part of her church. Caring. Good natured. Was in the car in driveway with husband when tree fell on top. #11Alive

Tropical Storm Irma blew through Georgia and metro Atlanta on Monday, sending trees and power lines down across the area.

Another man was killed in Sandy Springs after winds knocked a tree into his house. Neighbors called 911, but the man was already deceased when first responders arrived.

A third person was found dead at his home in Worth County after he reportedly went outside into the storm to check on damage to the roof of his shed. The man's wife said he died of a heart attack, though authorities have not confirmed a cause of death.